COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior Jon Hughes arrived at Mizzou in 2010 as an already-successful mid-distance performer from Mark Twain HS in Center, Mo. A two-time MSHSAA State Champion in the 800-meter run, and a three-time MSHSAA All-State in the 400-meter dash, Hughes continued garnering accolades as a Tiger.

In 2011, Hughes was a member of the Tigers' Indoor All-Big 12 4x400-meter relay team, helping them finish in 3:15.09 for eighth in the conference. Hughes also found success in the classroom, earning academic honors for both the Big 12 and SEC.

He will graduate wth a degree in nutrition and fitness before departing for Baylor to pursue his Master's in sports pedagogy.

JON BY THE NUMBERS

2011 Indoor All-Big 12 (4x400m)

2012 Academic All-Big 122013 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll

IN JON'S WORDS

On how he got started...I started track & field when I was in seventh grade, and I have done it every year since.

Why he chose the distance events...There wasn't really one thing that made me choose mid-distance. My coach in high school just kind of identified what he thought I would be good at, and trained me for those events. I guess he ended up being right. I have always liked the 400-meter dash more than the 800-meter run, though, but I've never had the speed to be able to focus on just that event.

His favorite memory before Mizzou...The challenge during my senior season to work for, and be able to defend, my state title in the 800-meter run.

On why he chose Missouri...I chose to come to Mizzou for several reasons. Mizzou is close to my hometown, and they had a program of study that I was interested in. The third, and one of the major reasons, was that I really liked what the coach who recruited me, Jared Wilmes, had done as far as getting kids to perform for him, and the way he spoke about the athletic program as a whole really made me feel like I would succeed.

On having his brother on the team...My brother transferred here for his fifth year the same year that I came in as a freshman. It was nice to be able to compete on the same team as him because I never had an opportunity to do that before due to our age difference.

His favorite Mizzou memory...There have been too many to pick just one. Overall, I am happy to have been able to be a part of the team and enjoyed many fun moments with my teammates throughout my time here.

On the team...The team has, and still does, mean a lot to me. They are really my extended family. I spend so much time with them and have become great friends with many of them. They have really helped make my time at Mizzou great.

Future plans...I have accepted an assistantship at the University of Baylor in Waco, Tx., where I will be getting a Master's degree in Sport Pedagogy and teaching undergraduate physical education classes.